Jose Mourinho eyes continental glory: which manager has the most European titles?

Roma secured a narrow 1-0 win in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final clash with Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday evening. A second half strike from 20-year-old Edoardo Bove gave Roma the win at the Stadio Olimpico and keeps the Giallorossi in the hunt for a second successive European trophy.

After the game Roma manager Jose Mourinho held six fingers aloft to the Roma supporters, signifying the sixth continental trophy that he hopes to end this season with.

Mourinho’s star has fallen slightly in recent years but he has managed to rebuild his reputation in the Eternal City and is adored by the Roma faithful. Last year he led the team to victory in the inaugural Europa Conference League and his side now stand 90 minutes away from a second consecutive final.

The Portuguese manager had already lifted both the Champions League and the Europa League on two occasions, in addition to last year’s trophy.

It’s an incredible record, but he is still some distance from the most successful managers in European competition. At the top of the list is current Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, who has won nine European trophies, including four Champions League titles. He is followed by Sir Alex Ferguson and Giovanni Trapattoni who have seven apiece.

Mourinho can pull clear of Guardiola this year

The Roma boss is still some way from reaching the European trophy haul of Ancelotti, but he could move clear of his other modern rivals with a win this year.

In the modern era there are few managerial rivalries that have burnt as brightly as the one between Mourinho and Pep Guardiola while they were in La Liga. Mourinho’s Real Madrid team were involved in countless tussles with Guardiola’s all-conquering Barcelona side and there is no love lost between the two.

Both Mourinho and Guardiola have led their teams to the semi-finals of European competition again this year and will both consider themselves slight favourites to progress. The two managerial iconics are currently level on European trophies with five apiece.

If either Roma or Manchester City can achieve European glory this season, their manager will draw level with Arrigo Sacchi in the all-time list. For Mourinho, it would be another chance to get one over on his El Clásico nemesis.

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